Cargo Theft Tactics: How Do They Do?

Summary

Cargo theft is a major threat in supply chain management, and it can occur in various ways during the freight forwarding process. It can happen through planned theft, leakage operations, complete hijack, robbery, direct pickups, and digital breaches. Preventive measures include partnering with reliable shippers and consignees, having complete visibility of cargo, tightening security, knowing the routes, providing emergency options for drivers, and implementing a strong security system to prevent cyber-attacks.

One of the main issues in supply chain management was security because supply chain management faces huge security threats that impact globally.

Cargo theft was not happening yesterday, and today, it started when logistics geared up. However, nowadays, cargo theft has become a more common activity to target high-valued goods and serves as a global threat to the market. 

red truck

BSI and TT Club published the top Asian countries like India, Indonesia, China, and Bangladesh were reported for the huge number of cargo theft incidents; also, the report states food & beverage cargo has the highest 31% of the stolen rate in the past 2020 year globally. 

Cargo thefts are often organized theft, and it can happen in many ways at any point of time in the supply chain process. From where are the cargos stolen? First, let’s understand the freight forwarding process from a simple picture. 

supply chain management operation

Cargo theft occurs in every step of this freight forwarding process. Cargo theft was conducted only by outside people; it also functioned by 

  1. Truck Drivers
  2. Cargo Handlers
  3. Robber or burglars (or)
  4. It can take place by anyone who involves in the freight forward process.

So how does this cargo theft happen? What are all the tactics followed? Here are seven ways to know how cargo theft occurs.

cargo theft tactics

1. Planned And Organized Cargo Theft

Planned theft mostly occurs while the cargo is in the move, either with shippers or consignees. Thieves target high-valued goods, also these thefts are held even by staff, truck drivers who carry the goods. There are many unclosed cases that state, both cargo and drivers are missing, truck and driver disappeared, etc. These cases are a bit suspicious, and assumed this was a planned theft by internal staff and drivers. 

How to prevent this type of strategic theft? Unfortunately, it is challenging to tackle these types of theft. 

  1. Work closely with your partners, shippers, and consignees. 
  2. Have complete visibility of your cargo.
  3. Proof of delivery

2. Only A Little Bit (Leakage Operations)

Leakage or pilferage operations in cargo theft are followed by many, commonly. Rather than taking a whole container or aiming for a high part, this theft occurs by taking just a piece for the entire part, a kind of leakage. These thefts aim at any desired or small products, which will be easy to resell. Pilferage may happen in the warehouse or while handling cargo mainly there are high chances where internal staffs can do this activity.

How to prevent pilferage cargo theft? It is really difficult to find out if this type of theft occurs. 

  1. If you are a manufacturer having your own warehouse, tighten your security. 
  2. Before choosing a freight forwarder or shipper for your goods, research and get to know about the company.

3. Complete Hijack

Hijacking a complete strategic and difficult incident to prevent from. This incident occurs on the road when a driver is away from his truck and goods in any rest stops. Also, some drivers may be involved in these hijacking activities and pretend like they don’t know anything. If a  trailer is unattended, then there will be more risk for the trailer, and it will be easy to hijack. 

How can you Prevent Hijack?

  1. Attach your trailer to a truck.
  2. Though hijack is not an unplanned process, keep an eye on suspicious activities. 
  3. Make use of Telematics devices (Vehicle Tracking System) to track your truck and goods. 

4. Robbery

You may think robberies and theft are the same, but there are differences. Robbery is an activity of stealing others’ things by forcing them. Robberies will mostly occur in the distribution process. Robberies happen on roads, terminals, or even in the name of goonda tax. Goonda tax is an illegal factor, where money or cargo goods are forced and extracted from drivers in the name of protection racket. 

It is really difficult to avoid robberies; in these incidents, even drivers’ life will be in danger. How to Prevent Robberies?

  1. Know about the routes before you travel. 
  2. Make wise decisions when it comes to drivers’ life or cargo. 
  3. Take legal actions.
  4. Always provide emergency options for your drivers. 
  5. Video telematics will help you to understand the situation well. 

5. Direct Pickups (or) Burglary

Here comes burglary; again, there are differences between theft, robbery, and burglary. Burglary is an action of stealing things by entering into the non-permitted property. This kind of theft happens in any part of the freight forwarding process; here, stealers will often look for small products which are easy to steal and sell. 

How to prevent direct pickup theft?

  1. Have your trailers attended. 
  2. Have high-security trailers. 
  3. Tighten the security with surveillance cameras. 

6. Digital Breach

Using advanced digital technology, stealers or hackers will breach the details of targeted cargos, shipment details to manipulate the data, or they will sell it to any organized theft group. 

How to prevent cargo cyber attacks?

  1. Implementing a strong security system will help you to be out of these cyber attacks.
  2. Do not install any documents or software from an unknown email.
  3. Companies should provide only limited access and details to the public.
  4. If you suspect any cyber-attacks, please inform the cyber-security board immediately. 

It is a really difficult job to analyze and prevent security threats in the supply chain. Adapt complete digitalization process in your organization to avoid any security threats and gain complete visibility over your business. Know more details on how to prevent road cargo thefts.

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